Powis Castle – A Game of Thrones Welsh Stronghold

A Game of Thrones Keep

Powis Castle is a Grade I listed country home in northern Wales overlooking the town of Welshpool. The first glimpse of Powys Castle is truly breathtaking as the red sandstone façade seems to rise dramatically from the surrounding landscape.

As I walked through the imposing gatehouse, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the regal style of the courtyard. In the center of this round space stands a life-size statue of Fame and Pegasus, sculpted by Andrew Carpenter in 1705. The statue looks out over a terrace with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, so we stopped for a time to enjoy the view with a coffee in the sun.

The castle’s design speaks to its medieval roots, and I could imagine the cold corridors paced by dour-faced lords plotting political intrigue while the common soldiers drilled in the courtyard prior to battle.

In my overactive ‘writers’ imagination tunnels delved into the hill beneath the castle, housing catacombs echoing with groans of the weary, restless dead - while above, the tapestry-laden corridors hummed with the gentler sounds of brocade gowns rustling, the hushed whispering of servants and the laughter of the ladies-in-waiting.

These types of places often inspire flights-of-fancy for me, colouring my mind with sensory experiences and memories that help add vibrancy to the fantasy fiction that I write.

Powis castles ‘Game of Thrones’ keep didn’t disappoint in this respect, providing the perfect backdrop for many such imaginings, which I documented in my notebook.

Such as: the library of illumination, where every bookcase opens out into a doorway that takes you to another world.

But a million fantasies don’t build a story without a solid base in fact and history…

Welsh History and Hauntings

A Welsh Prince called Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn constructed Powis Castle in the 13th century. Prince Gruffydd was the leader of the ancient kingdom of Powys and allied with Edward I of England, possibly because Welshpool is so close to the border of the English county of Shropshire.

An alliance between the English and Welsh was very strange for the time, but was more than likely politically motivated to secure a position for his son, Owain. This political alliance would ensure the succession of the Prince’s of Powis for hundreds of years in the battle scarred borderlands between the two countries.

In the 16th century, Edward Herbert, the son of the Earl of Pembroke purchased the castle. This purchase cemented the legacy of the Herbert family, a legacy that they maintain through to the 21st century.

George Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis eventually Bequeathed the castle to the National Trust in 1952 to manage and maintain for posterity.

The Haunting Of Powis Castle

There are many ghost sightings at Powis Castle, but chief among the legends is the tale of…

The Man in The Gold Laced Suit

In 1780 an elderly seamstress came to live in the castle to work for the Herbert family weaving and embroidering dresses and tapestries.

The story goes that when she arrived and was shown to her room, it seemed too large and opulent for a person of her station. The room was so grand it could only be meant for a Lord or Lady. The seamstress decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth, and on her first night, she fell asleep reading the only possession she had, her Bible.

As she slept soundly on her bed, she was awoken by a chill in the room. Three times she was awoken by a tall man dressed in a gold-laced hat and suit who entered the room and walked to the window, peering out before politely leaving the room with a nod.

Finally, the woman questioned the well-dressed phantom the third time he entered the room.

The ghost in gold looked at her in surprise and gestured for her to follow him.

She followed, and the ghost led her to a small room where he pointed at the floorboards. She lifted the wood where the ghost in gold was pointing and found a simple wooden box with a key on top of it.

The ghost then spoke to the seamstress in an eerie voice, commanding her to take the box and key to the Earl in London. The ghost warned her not to open the box and to hand it directly to the Earl.

When the seamstress delivered the unopened box to the Earl he unlocked it and looking inside was overcome with joy.

The story does not tell what the Earl saw in the box, but afterward he gave the seamstress her own house and enough money to set her up for life.

The Georgian era version of winning the lottery perhaps? 😂

Other ghost sightings at Powis Castle include a woman in black who’s often seen by the castle’s fireplace standing as if to warm herself from the bitter Welsh winter.

There have also been many reports of a piano playing in the ballroom of the castle. When someone enters the room to investigate the music, the piano keys fall still, as if the phantom pianist is startled to silence by the intrusion.

Lastly, a ghostly horseman has been seen riding along the road leading to the castle, only to fade into nothingness in the courtyard just before reaching the keep’s doors.

The Terraced Gardens - Peace, Tranquility and Topiary

The gardens at Powis Castle are Grade I listed, and they are one of the most important and beautiful gardens in Wales.

The terraced gardens descend from the castle walls, cascading down the Welsh hillside in sculpted lawns, vibrant flowerbeds, and topiary. These gardens, created in the late 17th century, are a testament to the vision and artistry of their creators.

At the base of the hill and through a tunnel of trained Yew tree topiary are further gardens where the scent of flowers fill the air and the soft sound of the fountains seems to murmur to the surrounding.

These lower gardens were the perfect environment to practice mindfulness, focus on the present moment and appreciate the beauty of the natural world.

A place to simply be, to breathe, and to find peace.

… and also a good place to stop for a packed lunch in the sun 😎

The Dragon Woods and a Deer or Two for the Road

There are miles of woodland and parkland on the estate at Powis Castle, but only a small portion of it is open to the public. I’m one of those people who love to get off the beaten track, so it feels a little restrictive to be limited like this after paying for entrance to the place, but to be fair there is a public footpath that leads from the nearby town of Welshpool.

This path allows everyone to enjoy the estate parkland, and views of the castle without paying for admission to the castle/gardens.

Prices are very reasonable at £12 (Off-peak times) or £17.00 (peak time) per adult. Check out the Powis castle national trust website for more information.

The woodland trails provide a quiet escape from the sounds of other visitors and there were some interesting features to discover, such as an old icehouse (in the shape of an igloo).

There are also dragons haunting these woods, so beware! These cool carven statues were located at the far end of the ground’s woodlands near to a grave for the family dogs which dated to 1862.

But the major draw of the woods for me were the trees, flowers, chatter of finch and blue tit in the canopy, and the wonderful views over the countryside near the edge of the woods.

The perfect end to a perfect day...

As we were leaving Powis Castle, driving down the road through the estate, we spotted deer and a pheasant calmly grazing in the grounds. They were very close, so I stopped the car and took a few last pictures.

Thank you for reading 🌿